Refrigerator car



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Feb. 11, 1941. G. G. GILPIN REFRIGERATOR CAR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug.1, 1938 Feb. 11, 1941. G, G. G||. P1N 2231,21()

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Aug. 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 11,1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE REFRIGERATOR CAR Application August 1,1938, Serial No. 222,363

13 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishablecommodities at a temperature within a predetermined range. Thisnecessitates use of a cooling means in summer and a heating means inWinter.

A refrigerator car comprises insulated Walls, roof and floor and, whenused in warm weather, a means for cooling the air as it circulates aboutthe car. The cooling means may be fresh WalO ter ice, a mixture of iceand salt, a brinesolution comprising ice, Water an-d salt, or a eutecticice consisting of frozen brine. The cooling means may be placed at theends of the car and separated by bulkheads from the lading compart- 15ment or may be suspended immediately below the ceiling.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which there arepreferably a plurality of refrigerant. containers near the roof. Thesecontainers may have foraminous walls through which air may circulatewhen the refrigerant is ice or ice and salt. The containers may also besolid tanks when brine is used, or they may have their upper Wallsforaminous to facilitate air circulation and their lower Walls andbottom solid for partial retention of brine. A drip pan or partition isprovided below each container to catch and drain the melted ice andcondensation from the container. A ue is preferably provided tocommunicate between the passage above the drip pan and the space betweenthe .door rack and the floor. The flue serves as a path for the downwardmovement of air which has been cooled by the refrigerant.

35 It is an object of this invention to hinge the bottoms of therefrigerant containers to the containers and also to provide latches orother means for securing said bottoms to the containers. The latches maybe easily released to 40 allow the bottoms to swing downwardly. It is afurther object of the invention to hinge andl jacent drip pans are maderemovable for re-l 55 moval of ice remaining in the containers.

A further object of the invention is to hinge only parts of the bottomsof the containers. A large amount of ice is carried in refrigerator carsand the containers must be strong and, therefore, heavy to support theWeight. Further-4 5 more, there may be a considerable quantity of iceremaining in a container. This Weight might be too great for one man, oreven two men, to handle safely if it is necessary to operate the entirebottom as a unit. It is an object of this 10 invention to construct partof the bottom rigid with the container and hingerthe remainder; then iceresting on the rigid portion may be pushed through the opening createdby the removal of the hinged partition. It is another l5 object tofurther decrease the Weight to be handled by hinging only a part of thedrip pan and constructing the remainder rigid with the car.

Another advantage in hinging only a part of the bottom of the containeris the safety requirement. Very frequently a large amount of ice remainsin a container and if the bottom is suddenly released, persons insidethe car Would be liable to injury by the resultant avalanche of ice.However, if only a part of the bottom is released, the quantity of icefalling inside the car is materially less. The remaining ice can then bepushed from the rigid part of the bottom through the opening in smallquantities.

It is frequently necessary to clean the containers of a refrigerator carbecause accumulated dirt may cause odors injurious to certain types oflading. It is an object of this invention to hinge the container bottomsand drip pans, thus making the containers easily accessible forcleaning.

Refrigerant containers are frequently in need of repairs. Damage may becaused by dropping large amounts of ice into the containers from a greatheight by the shifting of the ice during service movements of the car,or by the corrosive action of salt which is frequently added to the iceto produce a lower temperature. A further object of the invention is tofacilitate repairs to the tank by hinging the container bottom and drippan as heretofore described.

Another object of the invention is to make the drip pan accessible forcleaning by hinging it to the car structure.

Certain types of commodities require no refrigeration duringtransportation, but require ventilation. This is necessary because theyemit a continuous supply of heat which must be carried away or thelading Will become so Warm swingingmovement of the unit 45. mounteduponthe partition` I9 engages the leg.;

.125 and an arm 5I that it will be injured. Ventilation is ordinarilysupplied by opening some or all of the hatch covers. It is an object ofthis invention to hinge the drip pan, thus providing a direct path forthe Ventilating air to reach the lading compartment. It is a furtherobject to provide an adjustable support for the drip pan so that theamount of air entering lthe lading compartment may be controlled.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a refrigerator car having foraminousrefrigerant containers. The section is on line I I of Fig. 5 and showsthe container bottom in the closed position on the left and openposition onthe right.

Fig. 2 is a partial transverse section on line 2 2 of Fig. 5 showing therigidportion of the bottom. y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing a ventilating feature which maybe used.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section online 4 4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 5 5 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a partial transverse section of a car having tanks asrefrigerant containers, showing the bottom closed on the left and openon the right.

Fig. '7 is a partial transverse section on line I I'of Fig. 8 showingthe rigid portion of the bottom.

Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 8 3of Figs. 6 and 7.

Figs. 9 and 10`show modified constructions.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the usual parts of a, refrigerator car are shown, suchas center sill 2; side sills 3; underfran'ie cross members 4; sub-floor5; floor iloor rack 'I; side sheathing 8; side lining 9; auxiliary wallsI0 providing the flues II; side plates l2; outer roof sheets I3; runningboard I4; ceiling I5; hatch frames I6 surrounding the hatchesV II;refrigerant containers I8; drip pans or partitions I9; upright walls 20forming the duct 2I and insulation 22.

The forarninous refrigerant container 30 preferably comprises beams 3lextending between and secured to the side wall structure 29; foraminoussides 32 and a foraminous bottom 33 extend between and are supported bythe beams 3l. The beams 3i preferably consist of perforated webs 3d andupper and lower chords 35 36`. The sides 32 may be wire mesh, expandedmetal, perforated sheet, or other foraminous material.

The bottom 33 of the container 3i) preferably comprises a plurality ofinverted channel shaped parallel slats eil. The slats 4I near the centerof the container, (i. e., under the hatch I'I) are rigidly secured toand supported by the beams 2 43, said beams also serving as the lowerchords of the sides 32. The slats 44 near the ends of the container aresecured to. stringers 45 to form units 45 entirely separate from theremainder of the container. These units comprisingfslats Irlandstringers 45 are hinged to the beam i2 and releasably secured to thebeam 43 by a latch lll orother suitable means.

The latching mea-ns 4l shownv in the drawings comprises a member 5@secured to the stringers pivotally mounted on` the beam t3. The arm 5ihas a projecting finger 52 and a downwardly disposed leg 53, said finger52 engaging; the member 55 to prevent downwardly A lug 54 53 to preventrotation of the arm 5I and, therefore, to prevent dropping of the unit45 after the partition I3 has been raised to its upper horizontalposition.

The upright walls 2E) are shown secured to the beams 3| and extendingbetween said beams. The partitions I9 are hinged at 51 to the auxiliarywalls II] and releasably secured by a suitable latching means 53 to theupright walls 25. The drawings show the partition I9 below the container3@ to be formed of three sections, each separately hinged and latched.Since only the end portions 59 must be lowered to remove the ice fromthe container, this arrangement reduces the weight which must behandled. If it is necessaryv to cleanV or repair the containers 30 thevcenter portion 6I] may be lowered.

The drawingsv illustrate only a short portion of the .bottom at each endof the container hinged. Although there are other practicalarrangements, the one shown is preferred because the weight to behandled is small and because it is. a relatively simple operation todump the ice remaining on the rigid part of the bottom. The operationconsists ofv reaching through the hatch with a paddle or otherinstrument and pushing the ice toward` the ends of the container whereit falls through-the openings left by the removal ofthe end parts of thebottom.

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement used for ventilation of the car. Anadjustable means 6I substituted for the' latch-like fastener 58` allowsan opening G2`through which air may circulate to the lading compartmentA6 3 when the cover is removed from the hatch I'I.

Figs. 6-8y show a refrigerant container 'Ill adapted to the use ofaliquid refrigerant,Y such as brine. The tank 'Iil is formed, preferablyby welding., from imperfrate metallic sheet, the bottom 'IIhaving.corrugations 'I2tto give it greater strength. `A pipe 'I3 leadsfrom the tank 'I0 to outside the car and is equipped with a. valve whichmaybe closed to insure retention of the brine.

Ithe case of the brine tank the center portion ofthe bottom I4 under thehatch II is shown hingedand the ends 'I5 rigid. A gasket 'I6 madepreferably of rubber or other pliable material is providedfbetween therigidportion 'I5 of the bottom and the hinged portion 'I4 at theiroverlapp-ing'edges.y The hinge 'I'I is designed 'so that the. distancebetween the hinge I4 and rigid porl tions. l5 lofthe bottom maybeadjusted. Then the surfaces bearing on the gasket 'IS may be adjustedto. keep the gasket compressed to an extent necessary tdinsure awatertight joint. Theclamp I8` is'ada-pted to exert a considerablepressure on the portion ofthe gasket I6 adjacent said clamp. Otherclamps 'I9 spaced at intervals aroundthe overlappingportions of thebottom are used to keepthegasket 'I6 compressed at all points.`

Fig. 9y shows a constructionusing a" container having a solid bottom 84to retain somel brine and-havingforaminous' upper walls 85; Theadvantages off this typeof container'arel that it retainssomebrine'which isnecessary to produce' alow Atemperature andthatthe-foraminoustop 35 `allows freecirculation -and"ventilation. The

arrangement is similar to that Jsh'own. in Fig.' 1r

exceptrthevhin'ged part Aof the bottom `84f has an upstandingflange.tsurrounding it.l The flange 86adds' rigidity Vto the. bott'om85' inaddition to retaining '.brine.'

Fig. 10i shows' the bottom' of the' container hinged at 90 to the sidewall of the car. Any arrangement in which the part of the bottom 46 ishinged to any part of the car structure, such as refrigerant containeror side wall, should be construed as being within the scope of theinvention.

It is important that the hinge supporting the bottom of the containerand the hinge supporting the` portion IQ be arranged so that sufcientclearance is allowed for dropping the container bottom after thepartition has been dropped. Also, when only part of the partition is tobe dropped, it is important that the hinged part is of sufficient sizeto allow passage of the hinged part of the container bottom through theopening created.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of theinvention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of theclaims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart insulated walls, aninsulated roof, and a hatch in said roof in combination with arefrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, the bottom of said container being removably secured tosaid container, and a substantially horizontal partition below saidcontainer, said partition being hinged at one edge thereof to the carstructure and releasably secured remote from the hinge.

2. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart insulated walls, aninsulated roof, and a hatch in said roof in combination with arefrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, the bottom of said con- "tainer being hinged at one edgethereof to the car structure and releasably secured remote from thehinge, and a substantially horizontal partition below said container,said partition being hinged at one edge thereof to the car structure andreleasably secured remote from the hinge, said bottom and said partitionbeing arranged to permit swingable movement of said bottom uponswingable movement of said partition.

3. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart insulated walls, aninsulated roof, and a hatch` in said roof in combination with arefrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, a part of the bottom of said container being rigid withsaid container and another part of the bottom of said container beinghinged at one edge thereof to the car structure and releasably securedremote from the hinge, and a substantially horizontal partition belowsaid container, the part of said partition below the hinged part of saidbottom being hinged at one edge thereof to the car structure andreleasably secured remote from the hinge, said bottom and said partitionbeing arranged to permit swingable movement of the hinged part of saidbottom upon swingable movement of the hinged part of said partition.

4. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart insulated walls, aninsulated roof, and a hatch in said roof in combination with arefrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, the middle part of the bottom of said container beingrigid with said container and the end parts of the bottom of saidcontainer being hinged at one edge thereof to the car structure andreleasably secured remote in said roof in combination with a refrigerantcontainer below said hatch and arranged to be loaded therethrough, and asubstantially horizontal partition below said container, a part of said-partition being hinged at one edge thereof to the car structure andreleasably secured remote from the hinge.

6. In a refrigerator having a roof and a substantially vertical wall, ahatch in the roof, a

refrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, said container being disposed adjacent the refrigeratorwall, an upright wall adjacent said container and remote from saidrefrigerator wall, a substantially horizontal partition below saidcontainer, means associated with said refrigerator wall for hinging thebottom part ofsaid container and means to releasably secure saidpartition against the lower edge o-f said upright wall.

7. In a refrigerator having a roof and a substantially vertical wall, ahatch in the roof, a refrigerant container below said hatch and arrangedto be loaded therethrough, said `container being disposed adjacent therefrigerator wall, an upright wall adjacent said container and remotefrom said refrigerator wall, a substantially horizontal partition belowsaid container, means associated with said refrigerator wall for hingingthe bottom part of said container and means to space said partition fromsaid upright wall in adjustable relation thereto.

8. In a refrigerator having a hatch in the roof, a refrigerant containerbelow said hatch and arranged to be loaded therethrough and asubstantially horizontal partition below said container, the bottom ofsaid container being removably secured thereto and said partition beingremovably secured to the refrigerator structure.

9. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart insulated walls, aninsulated roof and a hatch in said roof in combination with arefrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, the bottom of said container being hinged at one edgethereof to the oar structure and releasably secured remote from thehinge and a substantially horizontal partition below said container,said partition being hinged at one edge thereof to the car structure andreleasably secured remote from the hinge.

10. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a wall,v a refrigerantcontainer below the roof, a hatch in said roof communicating with theinterior of said container for loading refrigerant into the container,an opening in the bottom of said container for removal of refrigerantthere' from, a closure for said opening, and a partition below saidcontainer, a part of said partition below said opening hinged fordownward swinging movement.

11. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a wall, a refrigerantcontainer below the roof, a hatch in said roof communicating with theinterior of said container for loading refrigerant into the container,an opening in the bottom of said container for removal of refrigeranttherefrom, a closure yfor said'opening, and a partition below saidcontainer, a part of said partition below said opening being removable.Y

1 2. In a refrigerator car having a roof and a Wall, a refrigerantcontainer below the roof and adjacent said wall, a hatch in said roofcommunicating with the interior of said container for loadingrefrigerant into the container, an upright wall on the opposite side ofthe container from the refrigerator wall, a partition below saidcontainer extending substantially between said upright wall and saidrefrigerator wall, inea'ns to hinge said partition to said refrigeratorwall, Yand means to support said partitiyon inadjustably spaced relationto said upright wall. t

13. In a refrigerator having an insulated roof, a hatch in said roof anda refrigerant container below said hatch and arranged to be loadedtherethrough, said container comprising a fo-

